If There Was A Delay In Your Doctor Diagnosing Adenocarcinoma Colon Cancer, It May Have Significantly Reduced Your 5-Year Survival Rate.

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States (US)
and nearly all of the colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas. Approximately
130,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year and it causes
more than 50,000 deaths annually. It is the second leading cause of cancer
death in the US.

The good news is that colon cancers are usually slow growing and stay localized
for an extended period of time. If an early diagnosis of colon cancer
is made, it can be caught before it metastasizes to other organs or lymph
nodes. Colon cancer that is diagnosed before lymph node involvement can
have approximately a 90% cure rate. Any
delay in diagnosing colon cancer can lead to a decrease in life expectancy or 5-year survival rate.

Signs or symptoms of colon or rectal cancer that you and your doctor or
gastroenterologist (GI) physician should be looking for can be:

Diarrhea

Constipation

Ribbon or narrow stools

Feeling like your bowel isn't empty after moving bowels

Dark, black or bloody bowel movements (BM's)

Abdominal bloating or distention

Abdominal cramps

Gas pains

Decreased appetite

Weight loss

Tired or fatigue

If you are exhibiting one or more of the above symptoms, your doctor may
conduct one or more of the following diagnostic tests to check for colon cancer:

Digital rectal exam (DRE) to check for any mass

Fecal occult blood test to check for blood in the stool

Scopes such as proctoscopy, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy to check for polyps,
tumors, suspicious tissues or other lesions

CT scan to see if there is an area of metastasis or cancer in other places

Barium x-ray to show the location of the tumor or mass

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) blood test which is a tumor marker test
used to monitor patients with colon cancer

Depending on what stage your cancer is when it is diagnosed will determine
what treatment you may need. Usually surgery is the most effective treatment
especially if the colon cancer was caught in the early stages. During
the time of surgery, lymph nodes may also be removed to see if the cancer
had spread. Sometimes the part of the intestine or colon that has the
mass is removed and the intestines are sewn back together or anastomosed.
Other times, a large portion of the bowel may be removed and a permanent
colostomy or stoma may be needed. Metastatic colon cancer or inoperable
tumors may require chemotherapy agents such as fluorouracil, leucovorin,
irinotecan or oxaliplatin. Radiation therapy may also be added in addition
to chemotherapy.

Any
failure to diagnose or treat colon cancer can decrease your survival rate. If you believe
that there was a delay in diagnosing your colon cancer you may be eligible
for compensation. Any failure to diagnose cancer case can be very complicated
and require the work of highly experienced Pennsylvania medical negligence
lawyers who can handle the intricacies that are involved in these types
of cases. The Philadelphia Beasley Law Firm is a
nationally recognized medical malpractice and wrongful death firm that has been awarded over $2 billion for their
clients. Our specialized teams, made up of physicians and nurses, have
spent over 60 years working in the healthcare field. We are skilled in
areas where other firms may not be, including wrongful death, negligence,
and personal injury. Our collective knowledge assisted in obtaining two
of the largest
medical negligence verdicts in Pennsylvania history, $100 million and $55 million, as well as hundreds of other multimillion
dollar judgments and settlements. Please feel
free to contact one of our experienced lawyers, doctors or nurses at 1.888.823.5291 for
a strictly confidential and free consultation.

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The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Please
note: All cases are different and past results do not predict future case outcomes.

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